Loose-leaf binder.



H. CL MILLER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY], 19-11.

Patented Dec. 24, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

//\/\/E/\/ TOR 07 AT TOR/V5 Y5 H.C. MILLER.

LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED MAY 7. 1911.

Patented Dec.24,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z- III I in I: A J A- J M AT TURN EYE HENRY C. MILLER, OFMILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 7, 1917. Serial no. 166,872.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY C. MILLER, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Loose-LeafBinders,

of which the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which are a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in loose leaf binders.

The invention relates more particularly to that type of binders in whichthe leaves are removably placed between side covers which are movabletoward and away from each other to adjustably clamp and hold leavestherebetween.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a looseleaf binder in which the leaves may be easily removed from or insertedin the binder and when inserted the leaves may be firmly locked inposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binderhaving extensible flattened binding posts which may be revolved apartial turn to lock or unlock the leaves thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder inwhich the binder may be opened and extended to a working positionwhereby the leaves may be spaced apart and maintained in spaced positionto permit the convenient removal or insertion of leaves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder inwhich the locking posts are turned by a rack and gear connectionactuated by a threaded member and, nut.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binderhaving means for easily opening and closing the cover portions to permitthe convenient removal or insertion of leaves.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binder inwhich the leaves are shaped to permit their easy engagement with theposts of the binder.

A further object of the invention is to provide a loose leaf binderwhich is of simple construction, is strong and durable and is welladapted for the purpose described.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of theimproved loose leaf binder and its parts and combinations as set forthin the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved loose leaf binder;

Fig. 2 is an inner side view of the back of the binder, the covers beingshown in open position;

Fig. 3 is an end view of a portion of the binder with the back shown inpartly expanded position and some of the leaves in spaced position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3 with the backshown inexpanded position;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2; and

Fig; 7 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6. 1

Referring to the drawings the numerals 8 and 9 indicate the side piecesforming the covers, 10 the back portion proper, l1 and 12 the extensibleback members and 13 the leaves of the improved binder. The back andextensible back members are preferably formed of stamped sheet metal andthe back portion 10 is provided with ofi'set guide members 14 whichextend into guide sockets 15 formed in the extensible back members 11and 12. The offset guide members are mounted on the inner side of theopposite ends of the back and extend transversely thereof and parallelto each other to maintain the extensible back members in parallelrelation to each other in moving toward and away from each other.

A threaded rod 15 journaled in bearings 16 mounted medially on the backmember 10 extends longitudinally of the length of the back and isprovided with right and left handed threaded portions 17 and 18. NutsPatented Dec. 24%, 1918.

and 12 by pivot pins 23 and are reverselyf positioned in pairs withrelation to each other so that as the nuts are drawn toward each otherthe extensible back members will be pulled toward each other and whenmoved outwardly away from each other the extensible members will bepushed outwardly to open position. The threaded rod is turned by acranked key 24 which enters a key opening of the back and engages thesquared end 25 of the rod. The endwise movement of the rod is preventedby the shoulders 26, formed by reducing the diameter of the rod at theportions engaged by the bearings 16, and which shoulders bearagainst'the bearmgs.

The outer part of the metal forming each extensible back portion is bentlongitudinally of its length in a half circle as indicated by thenumeral 27 and is then extended at right angles to the back portions toform tubular side flanges 28 to which the covers 8 and 9 are connectedby hinge connections 29. The spaces 30 and 31 formed by the tubularflanges serve to hold in part the mechanism for holding the leaves inposition.

Tubular binding posts 32 and 33 extending through and journaled at theirouter ends in the side flanges 28 extend toward and telescope each otherin pairs as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7 of the drawings. The postsare of oval form in cross section and the posts 32 telescope over thefree ends of the posts 33 and have beveled or rounded 'end portions 32'to permit the leaves 13 to freely slide over the joint of. connection.

The posts 32 along one of their side portions of less diameter areformed withsaw teeth 34 which incline toward the particular flange inwhich the posts are journaled. These teeth when turned upwardly serve tohold th leaves in spaced position as illus-,

trated in Fig. 3 and is very desirable in removing or inserting leavesas it the leaves in position.

The posts extend through the inner walls of the flanges and are providedwith enlargements or washers 35 on opposite sides of the walls toprevent endwise movement'of the posts and all of the posts extendingthrough the flange wall and into the tubu- Jar space 31 have gearsmounted thereon in lieu of the washers. A toothed bar 37 slidablymounted in the tubular space 31 has its teeth 37 in mesh with the gears36 and rotates the. same one quarter turn to open or closed position.The toothed bar 37 is maintains slidably held in position between thewall of the flange 28 and guide members 38 fastened to the extensibleback member 12.

A post actuating members 39 threaded through a portion 40 of the member12 carries a collar 41 loosely journaled on a reduced portion 39 thereofwhich is provided with a laterally extending finger 41. This.

the key with the threaded member 39.

The leaves 13 which are removably inserted between the side covers 8 and9 are provided with post openings 45 near their inner edges and fromwhich lead outwardly flaring slots 46. The openings 45register With theposts and are of a diameter corresponding to the larger diameter of theposts to permit the free turning thereof. The inner ends 46 of the slotscorrespond in width to the portions of the posts of less diameter sothat when the posts are revolved a one quarterturn and the covers areexpanded outwardlv as shown 1n Fig. 3 the leaves 13 may be freelyremoved and when the wide portions of the'posts extend transversely ofthe slots of the leaves the leaves are locked in position. W

In order to cover the mechanism in the back of the binder and form aflat support for the inner edges of the leaves the extensible backmembers are provided with plates 47, one of the plates being connectedto each extensible back andmoving therewith and each plate formed inpart of spaced tongues 47 which interfit the spaced tongues of the otherplate and extend toward and OVOTIZII) each other. The overlappingportions are offset as indicated by the numeral 48 to form a flatsurface for the leaves to rest upon. The extensible back portions attheir ends are guarded by upturned flanges 49 on the back portion 10.Openings 50 are provided in the back members 11 and 12 to receive angledbrackets 51 for holding the binder in an upright and partly openposition for convenience in use.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the binder is ofvery simple construction and is well adapted for the purpose described.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

l. A loose leaf binder, comprising a back portion, extensible backmembers slidably connected thereto, revoluble binding posts journaled inthe back members and extending toward each other, said posts intransconnected thereto, flattened'revoluble binding posts journaled inthe extensible back members and telescoping each other, sidecovers'hinged to the extensible back members, some of said posts havingtoothed wheels mounted on their journaled ends, a rack bar in mesh withthe toothed wheels, a threaded rod carried by one ofthe extensible backmembers for reciprocating the rack bar, means for moving the extensibleback members toward or away from each other, and leaves having openingsand slots through which the binding posts extend.

3. A loose leaf binder, comprising a back portion, extensible backmembers slidably connected thereto, flattened revoluble binding postsjournaled in the extensible back members and telescoping each other,side covers hinged to the extensible back members, some of said postshaving toothed wheels mounted on their journaled ends, a rack bar inmesh with the toothed wheels, a threaded rodcarried by one of theextensible back members for reciprocating the rack bar, means for movingthe extensible back members toward or away from each other, and leaveshaving openings adjacent their inner edges through which the bindingposts extend, said leaves also having flaring slots which extendflaringly outwardly from the openings to the inner edges of the leavesto permit the removal of the leaves when the posts are turned in acertain position.

4. A loose leaf binder, comprising a back portion, extensible backmembers slidably connected thereto, side covers hinged to the extensibleback members, flattened revoluble binding posts journaled in theextensible back members and telescoping each other in pairs at theirfree ends for removably holding leaves, said pairs of posts havintoothed wheels mounted on their journale ends, a rack bar in mesh withthe toothed wheels for turning the revoluble posts, a rod having athreaded engagement with one of the extensible back members, means foroperating the threaded rod, a collar carried by the threaded rod andconnected to the rack bar, leaves having openings adjacent their inneredges through which the binding posts extend, and means for moving theextensible back members toward and away from each other.

5. A loose leaf binder, comprising a back portion, extensible backmembers slidably connected thereto, side covers hinged to the extensibleback members, flattened revoluble binding posts journaled in theextensible back membersgtnd telescoping each other in pairs at theirfree ends, said pairs of posts having toothed wheels mounted on theirjournaled ends, a rack bar in mesh with the toothed wheels, a rod havinga threaded engagement with one of the extensible back members, means.for operating the threaded rod, a collar carried by the threaded rodand connected to the *rack bar, leaves having openings adjacent theirinner edges through which the'binding posts extend, said leaves alsohaving slots which extend flaringly outwardly from the openings to theinner edges of the leaves to permit the removal of the leaves when theposts are turned to a certain position, and a link and threaded rodmeans for actuating the extensible back members.

6. A loose leaf binder, comprising a back portion, extensible backmembers slidably connected thereto, side covers hinged to the extensibleback members, flattened and toothed revoluble binding posts j ournaledin the extensible back members and telescoping each other in pairs attheir free ends, said pairs of posts having toothed wheels mounted ontheir 'journaled ends, a rack bar in mesh with the toothed wheels, a rodhaving a threaded engagement with one of the extensible back members,means for operating said rod, a collar carried by the threaded rod andconnected to the rack bar, leaves having openings adjacent their inneredges through which the binding posts extend, said leaves also havingslots which extend flaringly outwardly from the openings to the inneredges of the leaves to permit the removal of the leaves when the postsare turned with their toothed portions extending away from the backportion, and a link and threaded rod means for actuating the extensibleback members.

'7. Binding posts for a loose leaf binder, consisting of flattenedtelescoping revoluble tubes having teeth formed along one of the sideportions of less width. of one of the tubes.

8. Bindin posts for a loose leaf binder, consisting of flattenedtelescoping revoluble tubes having saw shaped teeth formed along one ofthe side portions of less width of the outer tube.

9. Binding posts for a loose leaf binder, consisting of a post memberhaving teeth formed along one of its sides for holding in spacedrelation the leaves which are held by said member.

10. In combination with leaves having openings, of a binding posttherefor consisting of a post member having teeth .formed along one ofthe'sides for holding ting the free movement of the leaves on the postwhen turned in another position.

11. In combination with leaves having openings, of a flattened bindingpost therefor consisting of a post member having teeth formed along oneof the narrow sides for holding the leaves in spaced relation when 10the post is turned to a certain position and permitting the freemovement of the leaves on the post when turned in another position.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

HENRY o. MILLER;

